A MUM who regrets filming OnlyFans content to pay off £20,000 slot machine debts has quit – and is now helping others battle gambling addictions.
Elisha Cook says she was so desperate to claw back cash to pay off her debts, racked up from mobile phone slot machines, she made an account to sell
Elisha Cook has opened up about regretting filming X-rated videos to pay for her £20,000 slot machine debtsCredit: Kennedy Newsand Media
After filming the clips, the 28-year-old said she’d feel ‘even less dignity’, gambling away any earnings to ‘forget’ what she’d doneCredit: Kennedy Newsand Media
After filming the clips, the 28-year-old said she’d feel ‘even less dignity’, away any earnings to ‘forget’ what she’d done.
The creator, who was in the clutches of a seven-year gambling addiction, spent a year making content on , often selling videos for £10.
In April 2024 she decided to quit gambling and her and in June 2024 confessed to her mum how bad her debts were.
Now, with the support of her mum, Elisha is in recovery and ‘fighting’ to get her life back – and has released a book called Too Good To Gamble to help others.
Elisha, from Bournemouth, Dorset, said: “I was just trying to make [on the slot machines], but it was enjoyable as well when I was in the zone, thinking about the potential of a big win.
“I turned £10 into £20, so I thought I could double larger amounts.
“Next I turned £1,000 into £6,000, then I would go and spend that money back.
“It was like entering a different world. Then I’d step out of it after and think ‘what have I just done?’.
“I’ve lost around £200,000 from gambling in total.
“I became really isolated. I didn’t see any friends because I couldn’t afford to go out and do simple things like go for lunch.
Desperate to earn money to cover her gambling losses, Elisha worked up to 80 hours a week in two as a carer and a factory worker.
Elisha said: “I’d work all the time to make back the money I’d lost and keep me distracted.
“I started taking my daughter to nursery more often because I needed to work more.
“About a year in, I started to see real consequences like being unable to pay my rent, but I just kept telling myself I would win it back.”
X-RATED CONTENT
As her daughter reached school age, Elisha decided to start making content on OnlyFans.
Elisha said: “I realised it was an opportunity to make money. It wouldn’t have crossed my mind before.
“My daughter was at school then, so I needed to be there at 3pm. I couldn’t work 80 hours a week anymore.
“I could work and do OnlyFans. I didn’t want to be doing it, so I felt even less dignity, then I would gamble all the money to forget I had done it.
“Having sex became about work rather than joy, pleasure and intimacy.
I became really isolated. I didn’t see any friends because I couldn’t afford to go out and do simple things like go for lunch
Elisha Cook
“I didn’t want to do it anymore so I closed it down, it’s not something that I’m proud of.
“There’s so much more to someone’s story, so before you judge – think about why that person’s doing what they’re doing.”
Despite making thousands from videos she sold, Elisha said that it all went back into the slot machines.
Elisha said: “People would ask and I’d whatever they wanted, really.
“It was pay-what-you-want. As long as I had some money, £10 pounds to put on the casino, I didn’t care.
“I didn’t make loads, a few grand, I was in about £20,000 of debt at that point.
“I hated it. After a year, it got to the point where I didn’t want to do it anymore, so I stopped. I closed the account.”
Elisha says she was so desperate to claw back cash to pay off her debts, racked up from mobile phone slot machines, she made an account to sell explicit videosCredit: Kennedy Newsand Media
GAMBLING HELP
In June 2024. Elisha finally opened up to her mum about how badly she was struggling and says life is now better without gambling.
Elisha said: “When I actually admitted it and I stopped constantly lying, that’s when I could actually get help.
“A lot of women are ashamed and embarrassed, they don’t want to tell their families because they’re scared of the judgement.
“My mum took control of my finances, I could talk to her whenever I was scared I was going to relapse.
“You have to use the determination you have for gambling to fight to get your life back.
“I’m making the most of every day. I missed my twenties and I’m not going to let it ruin the next ten years.
“I’ve got fuel in the car to drive my daughter to places, to take her swimming, I can afford to be present.
“I can see how much better my life is without it.”
Elisha is in recovery and ‘fighting’ to get her life back – and has released a book called Too Good To Gamble to help othersCredit: Kennedy Newsand Media
Elisha is sharing her story to help others struggling with a gambling problem.
Elisha said: “You just have to keep trying, you can’t give up, even if you have relapses.
“You have to tell yourself it doesn’t matter how many times you fall, you have to keep picking yourself up every time. Keep going and eventually you will get there.
“You have to use the determination you have for gambling to fight to get your life back.”
How to get help for a gambling addiction
GAMBLING addiction is a serious issue that can have devastating effects on individuals and their families.
Recognising the signs and symptoms is crucial for seeking timely help.
Common indicators of a gambling problem include spending more money and time on gambling than intended, lying about gambling activities, and experiencing financial difficulties as a result.
Emotional symptoms may include anxiety, stress, and depression, often exacerbated by the losses and the cycle of chasing them.
There are several avenues for support and treatment for those struggling with gambling addiction.
Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) is a common approach that helps individuals change their gambling behaviours and thoughts.
Support groups, such as Gamblers Anonymous, provide a community of individuals facing similar challenges, offering mutual support and understanding.
It is essential for friends and family members to be aware of these signs and encourage their loved ones to seek professional help.
Early intervention can prevent the escalation of the problem and help individuals regain control over their lives.
There are also charities and support groups that offer free, confidential support to people who are gambling, and their friends and family.
- The National Gambling Helpline (run by GamCare ) – call 0808 8020 133 for free 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for free information, support and counselling
- GambleAware – the National Gambling Support Network service
- Primary Care Gambling Service – a national service providing support for anyone experiencing gambling-related harms
- GamLearn – the Gambling Lived Experience and Recovery Network service
- Gamblers Anonymous – a local support group service that uses the 12-step approach to recovery
- Citizens Advice Bureau – a charity that can advise you on a range of issues, including finances and gambling
- ChapterOne – a charity that can provide advice and support for anyone experiencing gambling-related harms
